Ice-cooling muddler, method of making



J. D ARCEY `fume 2, 1942.

ICE-COOLING MUDDLER, METHOD OF MAKING Filed June 13, 1940 2 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 dimm@ June 2, 1942." J. DARcl-:Y

ICE-COOLING MUDDLER, METHOD OF MAKING Filed June 13, 1940 2 Sheets-Shea?I 2 IIIIIIIIIIIIII Il.

I awe/azion- Patented June 2, 42

UNITED STATE s PATENT oFFics ICE-COOLING MUDDLEB, ltIETHD F MAKING 1 Claim.

My present invention is a novel and improved ice-cooling stirring stick or muddler for use in cooling and stirring drinks contained in a glass, and includes a novel apparatus and method of forming same.

Heretofore it has been customary to use various types of stirring sticks or so-called muddlers to vkeep ice cubes and the contents of a glass in mixed condition either for cooling drinks or medicinal purposes.

Considerable difllculty has, of course, been found with having several ice cubes in an individual glass, or container, as they necessarily interfere with the stirring operation and are otherwise objectionable during drinking from the glass, and, furthermore, they melt quickly and dilute the contents of the glass, and cannot be readily removed without securing a spoon, Awhich is not always available.

My invention contemplates the use of a stirring instrument with a mass of i'ce frozen around the outside of the stirrer or muddler, leaving a handle portion free of ice. Thus, my improved ice-coated or encircled stirring stick or muddler can be used to cool the contents of a glass, being left in the same, stirred therein, or readily removed therefrom while drinking, replaced therein for further cooling, or removed entirely te prevent the drink getting too cooled or' becoming too diluted.

I have also devised a novel method of forming such an ice-coated or covered stirring device, as well as a novel and improved apparatus for -carrying out the same.

Referring to the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of my present invention:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a novel apparatus which may be advantageously used for ice-coating stirring sticks or muddlers;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional elevational view;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a. modified type of muddler, and

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are typical views of various modifications.

As shown in Fig. 1, my novel apparatus cornprlses a receptacle constituting side walls l and a bottom portion 2 adapted to contain a freezing liquid or refrigerant 3.

The side walls are providedl with inwardly projecting lugs 6 extending around the same in suitable position near the top to receive the shouldered portion 6 of the holding apparatus substantially the same contour but slightly'less in size, the same being indicated with sides l and a bottom portion t provided with a series of depending tapered tubular members i0 of appropriate diameter to receive the stem portion i2 of a corresponding series of muddlers of sultable diameter to carry the mass of liquid i3 to be frozen around each stem portion l2 encircling the stem of the muddler.

These tubular sections l0, as best shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, are also of appropriate diameter to contain a quantity of water I3 to be frozen to each muddler so that the same may, if desired, be substantially equal to the cooling surface af forded by two of the present standard type of ordinary ice cubes usually put in the glass. These proportions in my device can, of course, be increased or changed as desired, thus affording a larger carrying surface for longer muddlers, equal to three or four ice cubes, in the cooling effect on tall drinks, highballs, or the like.

Each muddler has its. handle portion I5 extending substantially above the top of the tubular receptacle so that the handle portion will be free of encircling ice during the freezing operation.

Each bottom portion of the'interior of each tubular member I0 is preferably bevelled or slanted as shown at i6, Fig. 2, to give a selfcentering effect on the end of the muddler placed in the same, which end i. usually pointed. To hold the top of a mass of muddlers fitted in my novel apparatus, I prove a. removable top carrying a plurality of cross-members 20, having a series of recesses 2I-2I therein enclosed with a lining 22 of rubber, felt, or the like to automatically compensate for any advances in the length of the individual muddlers during the clamping action, which recesses are in alignment with the tops of the tubes I0.

Preferably, also, each recess 2l is of appropri/ate contour to t the top of the handle portion i5 of themuddler being utilized. Thus, for example, if the handle I6 is round, the recess 2l or the lining 22 would be accordingly so formed. Or, in the example used in the drawings forI illustrative purposes, the handle i5 being long and flat, the recess 22 is accordingly so shaped, as illustrated in dotted lines, Fig. l, at '2d-2l, thus also serving to center each muddler in its respective tubular member I between the recess in the` top of the cross-bar 20 and the bevelled bottom I8 of each tube.

These cross-bars 20 'may be removably atadapted to fit within the receptacle l and of tached to the sides l of the frame by a series of' latches 2l, see Fig. 3, each latch being pivotally attached at 26 to the sides 1 (see Figs. 2 and 3) and thelrsame may be simultaneously rotated by a crosslbar 2l pinned to each latch at 20, or

. otherwise suitably secured for simultaneous opin each of the tubes has been frozen by the refrigerant 8, and thereupon the entire mass of tubes can be quickly dipped or immersed in hot water or subjected to heat. which will loosen the water in the tubes il from the ice in contact therewith so that the muddlers, with their en circling ice encasing the lower stems i2 of each, can be lifted from the tubes when the top-holding frames Il are removed. as will be readily appreciated.

As shown at the right oi' Fig. 2. I may have each muddler or. stick pierce a cherry or olive 35. which can be frozen with the water i3 and, if desired, as shown in Fig. 4. I can utilize tubular members Iii, or a pair of tubular members, to serve as straws for drinking the contents ot the glass in which they are subsequently placed for cooling andfstirrins. Where such hollow tubes or straws are utilized. the bottom portion Vof each tube i0 can be iormed ot rubber, as shown at Il,

, 2 assenso Fig. 4. to close the bottom of the tube and prevent the water il from flowing therein, when each tube is filled and. accordingly. the. top portion of the cross-bar 20 would be similarly fitted. as shown at u, Fig. 4, to nt the top of the tube and aid in the centering action.

If desired, the bottom of the tubes l0 may be pointed to permit an ordinary round stick l0 to have a projecting point 8i beyond the encircling ice l2, as shown at Fig. '7. i

Various modifications can be readily utilized in the formation both of the muddler, the tubular container, and the covering members to center the same, as will readily occur to those skilled .in the art.

I claim:

The improved method ot preparing an iceooated muddler formed with a pointed end, which consists in providing a tubular liquid-receiving member having a conical bottom to receive and to center the muddler point when iitted therein, applying a muddler lengthwise in said tube, tilling with liquid. applying a holder overv the liquid-receiving member to hold I the muddler centered in said tube. subjecting the same to a freezing temperature to freeze ice irl theI tube about that portion of the muddler immersed therein, and thereafter releasing the muddler centering means and withdrawing the muddler with the iceencircied about the same.

JOHN D'ARCEY. 

